Theoretical Orientation       

 

Most mental health professionals have a perspective about what causes human distress, how people respond to stress and show resilience, how change occurs and what therapists can do to help. This perspective leads to choosing a type of therapy with think will be very effective with our clients; that's called our theoretical orientation.

 

Matching my treatment plan to a client’s personality, symptoms, cultural context and current situation is a theoretical orientation called Integrative Psychotherapy. Adapting to individuals rather than doing the same treatment with every person is what believe creates the most satisfying and effective psychotherapy. I also appreciate my clients' natural strengths -- their sense of humor, their logical mind, their self-awareness, their kindness, the coping strategies they have invented and tested. We needn't focus just on what hasn't worked well in a person's life.

 

Integrative psychotherapy obviously requires the therapist to know more than one approach to treatment. This way, they needn't apply the same strategy to every client in every circumstance. The approaches I’m most fond of are Interpersonal Therapy (building relationship skills, the bond in therapy,); Psychodynamic Therapy (that our past is related to our present; that insight makes a big difference), Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (how we think about life events affects how we feel about them) and Existential Therapy reflecting on the human condition, natural anxiety and meaning in life.) I'm also a fan of some parts of Humanistic Therapy (being non-judgmental, allowing the client to determine their path) and Rational-Emotive Therapy (accepting difficult realities.) 

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   Valuable Clues       

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Part of what I value about Integrative Therapy is that we can follow our interests in session, learning about your life from many angles. Thoughts, feelings and behaviors, past and present, privately and with others, are all helpful to understand. Every bit of this data, in my opinion, helps us detect patterns, make important decisions, feel understood and content in life. Utilizing an integrative approach is also more fun, in my opinion, because we can flex to what's important to you on that day. For example, if we've been working on your anxiety and body image, but you just had an outrageous experience at work, perhaps that's what you'd like to discuss today?? FYI, some therapists disagree; they prefer to immerse deeply in a single theoretical orientation. This enables these therapists to become quite expert in their approach to therapy. I prefer to catch authentic moments in session, though.
 

 

   Why Integrative Therapy Works        

 

There are many possible explanations for why we have such strength and resourcefulness in some areas of our lives and such easy frustration in other areas. Doing this detective work together, in therapy, can be an incredible relief. People begin feeling better long before their problems are solved, because they sense they're understood and are getting to the bottom of things. 
 

 

   The Feel of Our Sessions     

 

I hope you’d find our sessions to be warm, productive and intriguing. I'm fairly active in sessions, meaning that I am curious, ask direct questions, guide our movement in the session, support and challenge you as appropriate and suggest some things for you to do or think about between sessions. Many people tell me they had a prior therapist who was an understanding listener and kind presence, but who didn't seem to provide direction, didn't stretch them, didn't offer honest feedback or new ideas. By contrast, the feel of my sessions is meant to be a dynamic collaboration.

 

Most of us have a tendency to either over-rely on contemplating things (and have trouble taking action) or leap to taking action (and have trouble with patience for insight.) I work to help clients understand the root causes of their issues and to make meaningful changes that will stick. Combining insight and action is quite powerful, obviously. Strict confidentiality is part of what makes it all work, too.

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   It's the Relationship     

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It's powerful to hear yourself say something out loud that you had not realized before, or that you knew but had kept to yourself. In a good therapy relationship, it doesn't feel like getting an X-ray, where someone else can see inside you and analyze, but you are in the dark. You as client will know lots more than I do about your life, but I'm good at helping you arrive at some realizations and putting that insight to good use.  

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Want to forego years of reading dry, scientific journals? Here's the scoop on psychotherapy research: the most curative factor is the strength of the client-therapist relationship, referred to as the working alliance. This is so well-demonstrated empirically, it's not controversial. It really is important to work with a therapist who "gets you,"not just because it feels nice, but because they won't know how to help you unless they understand you. 

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In addition to connection, though, each client deserves a treatment plan that responds accurately to their clinical issues. If we have an Initial Phone Consultation, I will be listening for whether you might benefit from working with a therapist who has better expertise or availability than I do. Seeking therapy shows courage and character; it's important you be in the right hands. 

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Please be in touch if you'd like to inquire about therapy: danafalk@icloud.com

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